THANKS SHIA- NOW I'M GONNA MAKE AN EVEN BETTER TITLE

Well, I finally have something to be mad at Shia LeBeouf about. Not his weirdness or acting or whatever it is that so many people seem to have issues with him about. No. I am pissed because he has a new movie, some sort of autobiography, and it's title is "Honey Boy".

Why does that annoy me? Well, I'll tell you.

As most of you know, I am a writer. Kind of obvious, I suppose, since I am writing a blog. But then again, many folks write blogs who I wouldn't really call writers. But that's just me being snooty and a tangent. Apologies.

Back to the thing. I have been working on a script, a pilot for a really weird series about a rust belt town haunted by assholes. Originally I was going to call it "The Wastelands". And while that is a great title, and also a fine poem by T.S. Eliot, it doesn't exactly scream "Watch me! I'm fun! I'm exciting! I am the perfect thing to pop on Netflix and spend hours on the couch absorbing while munching on pizza." So I went back into it, and hit upon "Honeyboy", which is the name of one of the central characters, is kind of unique, evocative, and all the things that can make for a good title.

And then I read online about this damn movie. (click HERE to read article)

Wasn't he retired or something? I thought he had some sort of breakdown and was living in the Himalayas. But no, the fucker has to go and get a movie together with my title.

Well, thanks a lot, Mister LeBeouf! Thank you very fucking much.

Actually, it's cool. I think this will just force me to come up with an even cooler title. One that grabs people and doesn't let go. Makes them think "Holy Shit! I must see this! Now! I'll order Hulu if I have to, just let me see it!"

And they should. It is a cool idea, a cool script, and one hundred percent me. Weird, funny, at times prescient.

In other news, there is a Kickstarter campaign going for a documentary about FringeNYC. The film is helmed by Francis Kuzler and Jeffifer Larkin, both super talented and awesome. I would not be where I am if not for the Fringe. Seriously. It is why I met my wife, how I got my start as a playwright, how I first got published. My plays Last Call, Muse of Fire, Some Unfortunate Hour, and April's Fool all had their first productions there. And now they are making a movie about it. Not my life, stupid. The New York International Fringe Festival.  For more info, go HERE.

Last but not least. I teach playwriting here in Denver at the DCPA. Summer class is Thursday nights. If you have ever wanted to write a play, have a play you want to work on, or are a full flung playwright looking for a workshop, this class is for you. Go HERE for more info.

That's three HEREs in one posting.

Good things come in threes.

KEEP ON, KEEP ON, KEEP ON DANCING ON THROUGH THE NIGHT

That's a lyric from a song the Brady Kids sang. From the later years, when shit got weird and cousin Oliver showed up and for some reason all the men and boys in Brady Bunch Land got perms. You know, when they took trips to Hawaii and the Grand Canyon and Greg got his groovy pad in the attic. The world had grown wiser, hipper, and far more accepting of adventurous style. I don't know why that song popped into my head as I sat down to the computer, but it did. So there it is, and that's all there is to it. And folks, we do need very much, to keep on rocking on through the night. There is just way to much sorrow and anger and lost souls on the highway of life for us to wallow in self pity, despair, or grief.

Life is for living.

I was thinking today- I know, a rare activity, but there I was, thinking. And I realized that the seven so-called sins are really just a waste of time. Too much to do. Write poetry. Dance strangely in public. Go to the movies. Kiss and hug and make love. Listen to Rocky Horror Picture Show soundtrack.

Yes, I think our current President is nuts, and needs to go. But we have to keep living, to remember what it is that makes life worthwhile, worth struggling for, worth living.

If I thought it would help to freak out, I would. But so far, in my long strange trip, I have not found that to be the case. So I am doing my best to see the light, the dark, and everything in between. I invite you all to do the same.

FUN HOME AT FAC

Fun Home, currently running at the FAC in Colorado Springs, is a funny, compelling, brilliant, and much-needed show that everyone should go see. Why? Well, first off, because it's a great production, a tony winning musical with a genius script, fascinating characters, a perfect cast, excellent direction, and fantastic music performed excellently. It's a sad but uplifting story of family, love, and desire. Secondly, we need more love in this world. And Understanding. And peace would be awesome as well. I think the way we find those things is by listening to each other, to finding the beauty and magic that goes with being a human being, no matter how different one human being is from another. And if you go to this show, I think you will find all those things, and more.

I don't want to make it sound like this is a show you should see because it's "good for you". It's a solid piece of theatre, entertaining, diverting, and fun. Yes, I do think it will also feed your soul, but don't let the fact that it is important sociologically scare you away. This is a whip smart, funny, engrossing family story that everyone can relate to on one level or another.

The story centers on Alison, who narrates the play from the present, an tells us of her life growing up in rural Pennsylvania in a funeral home run by her father, a strong, interesting, demanding man who has a problem: he is deeply in the closet. We see Alison at three different ages in the play: there is ten year old Alison, who is funny and smart, young enough to play airplane with her father, make up commercials for the funeral home with her brothers, and enjoy The Partridge Family on tv but also old enough to know life is becoming quite complicated; there is also college age Alison, coming to terms with the realization that she is a lesbian and entering her first fully realized relationship; and the grown up Alison who is working on a memoir and leading us through her memories. The ten year old Alison lives in very tense household. Her mother is in manic, tragic denial of her husband's not-so-hidden desire to be with other men. Her father, unable to fully realize himself, can be quite demanding on the rest of the family. It would be strange enough to live in a functioning funeral home, but to have so much tension between her mother and father is just insane. And, of course, a situation rife with drama perfect for the stage. College age Alison has come to realize she is gay, and has her first encounter with a woman, which grows into a full fledged romance. She also comes out to her parents, which leads to some of the of the most amazing moments in this show. I don't want to give too much away of the plot, but suffice to say things go from complicated to tragic to transcendent. (for more of the plot itself, you can go HERE)

The cast is uniformly excellent. As Alison's father Bruce, Patrick Oliver Jones is a revelation: he makes Bruce alternately tragic and comic, mystic and mercurial, and always magnetic. His voice is unbelievable, and his presence undeniable. As Alison's mother Helen, Megan Van De Hay is exquisite, portraying woman living in a world that is not quite what she thought it would be or hoped for, sadly in denial and trying desperately to maintain some form of dignity in a messed up situation. She is as complex a character as Bruce, and Ms. Van De Hay delivers a powerful performance. All three of the Alison's are amazing. As Small Alison, Kelly Tanberg is electric- she portrays a kid who is going on an extreme emotional roller coaster with aplomb. As medium Alison, Jessica Kahkoska is a joy to watch- full of excitement and curiosity. Her song "Changing My Major", is a stand out; and as Alison, Allison Mickelson is outstanding, going through the entire, agonizing experience of a person trying to reconcile herself to her past with equal parts compassion and comedy. The three Alison's are seamless, connected to each other on all levels and perfectly bouncing from one age to the other. As Alison's college lover Joan, Mackenzie Beyer is lovely, kind, and awesome. It is easy to see why Alison falls for her. Atticus Baker and Gabe Levy, as Alison's brothers Christian and John, are both outstanding, giving us two more lost souls in this dysfunctional home who are trying their best to enjoy their childhood. And as multiple objects of Bruce's attention, Parker Fowler rounds out this amazing cast. Each and every character he portrays is specific and unforgettable. This is such a strong cast, so talented, so full of life and empathy and humor. Truly one of the strongest ensembles I have seen on stage in years.

As for the direction and choregraphy by Nathan Halvorson, it is (as I have come to expect from this overly talented artist) exquisite. Always moving the story forward, finding the humor and tragedy in each moment. The shows feels like a memory, intense, connected to your bones, and evocative of so many emotions. Each character is given dignity, mystery, and love. And each song is a journey, a dream, and thrilling. Music director Stephanie McGuffin gets stunning performances out of each actor and each member of the orchestra. The sets and costumes by Lex Liang, are perfect- adding to the tone, theme, and mood in subtle but effective design. And the lighting, by Holly Anne Rawls, is beautiful.

I left the show moved, crying, happy, sad, and full of wonder. The play brings to mind ones own family, ones own memories of mistakes, miscommunications, and loves. I highly recommend it for anyone who has a family, a heart, and a soul.

THE GAME IS AFOOT AT FAC WITH KEN LUDWIG'S BASKERVILLE

There is a master class in hilarity, invention, and pure joy going on at the Fine Arts Center at Colorado College  right now, and it is called Ken Ludwig's Baskerville. The show is a tour-de-force of farce, satire, homage, performed with an intense amount of ability and talent by both cast and crew, with a team of designers and direction as brilliant as Sherlock Holmes himself.

The play is a comedy in the vein of The 39 Steps, with five actors portraying around 40 roles and giving a comedic version of Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes story "The Hound of the Baskervilles. The action of the play takes us all over both London, Devonshire and the Moors, with what feels like more scenes than some films. The tone is definitely madcap- a joyous insouciance that makes you happy to be alive, and like you are part of something unique as you watch it. The plot stays true to the original source, and I am fairly certain that Holmes's purists will enjoy it. I know my wife, who has read all of Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories several times over, loved the show just as much as I did.

The cast, to a one, is superb. As Sherlock Holmes, Christopher Joel Onken is outstanding. Onken captures the character perfectly, showcasing both the ridiculousness and charisma that makes Holmes Holmes. As the trusted sidekick Doctor Watson, Colin Alexander is outstanding. Together, they are the straight men to a cavalcade of characters, played with inspiration and gleeful madness by Andrew Wilkes, Jordan Mathews, and Rebecca Myers. These three actors play about ten characters a pieced, sometimes changing character in a matter of seconds. They are each formidable talents, who I suspect must secretly be magicians of some sort to be able to pull off all the tricks they do.

The production is directed by the great Nathan Halvorson, who knows how to do comedy, farce, and pretty much any style of theatre there is, about as good as anyone I know of. The action is blindingly fast, always creative, and a marvel to behold. The set, by Erick D. Diaz, is brilliant- evocative of so many familiar places- Holme's study, the Moors, the typical English Manor, etc. And yet, within all these locations, there are surprise elements, clever use of minimal pieces, and again a sense of joy and wonder, you see each setting with new eyes. Same can be said for the lush lighting by Jennifer Reiser, which is scary when it needs to be scary, warm when it needs to be warm, and always supporting the mood and action of the moment. The many props, which at times literally fly across the stage, are by Emma Dean, and are wonderful. The costumes, designed by Noelle Raffy, are gorgeous and perfect. Hair and make-up by Jonathan Eberhardt, which must be insane to do when you have three actors playing over 35 roles, is brilliant. Quick changes abound in this show, and to a one, each was done perfectly, thanks to the outstanding costumes and hair and make-up designs.

As you may have noticed, I think this show was fantastic. Performances continue through October 29. Don't be a fool- get your tickets and go. You won't be sorry!

For more information of the show, click HERE.

I AM I, DON QUIXOTE

When I was fourteen years old, I saw a show that changed my life. It was called Man of La Mancha, and it was magic and tragic and transporting. I am not sure exactly what all the factors were that made me decide to pursue a career in theatre, but that production was a huge part of that decision. So it was with great excitement and anticipation that I headed to Colorado Springs to see the Fine Arts Center's current production. I demand perfection when it comes to Man of La Mancha, and have come to expect perfection when going to the FAC. I am happy to report, I got what I wanted.

This show is a treat, from start to finish, at once hard-hitting in its portrayal of a prison during the Spanish Inquisition while at the same time whimsical and charming in the telling of Don Quixote. This is a play about hope in the face of absolute despair, of finding the courage to be true to your ideals, regardless of your situation- a fitting theme for the world we find ourselves in of late. I don't want to bother you with going over the plot. Suffice to say, it is a play-within-a-play where Cervantes finds himself thrown into jail during the Inquisition and while awaiting judgement, is given a kangaroo court trial by his fellow inmates. For his defense, Cervantes offers up his great tale of Don Quixote, famed dreamer and tilter of windmills. As the story unfolds, the inmates get swept up into the tale, taking on various roles as needed. If you want the basic plot of the show, go HERE.

The direction by Scott RC Levy, is tight, imaginative, and muscular. Levy keeps the show, which has no intermission, moving at a break-neck pace which serves the story well. He also elicits from his cast consistently strong performances, full of passion, comedy, and sorrow. I suppose it is possible for Levy to do a bad job- but I've yet to see that happen. The set, by Christopher L. Sheley, is gorgeous, as are the costumes by Sydney Gallas and lights by Holly Anne Rawls. The choreography by Mary Ripper Baker is subtle, evocative, and exciting. And the band, under the musical direction of Sharon Skidgel, is superb.

The cast is amazing. as Cervantes/Don Quixote, Stephen Day is the perfect blend of sublime hope, delusion, and daring. He made me laugh and cry in equal measure. As Sancho, Quixote's trusted sidekick, Sammie Joe Kinnett is hilarious, but never over the top- keeping the character grounded and believable and a joy to behold. And Aldonza/Dulcinea, Gina Naomi Baez is fanatastic-  she makes the character sexy, dangerous, and vulnerable as we watch her journey from hardened bar wench to dignified woman. There is not a weak link in this cast.

Man of La Mancha plays Thursdays thru Sundays until June 18. I strongly urge you to go. And, when you do, look around in the audience after the show.  I am sure that there will be more than one young person in the audience who's life will be changed for the better- look for them, look for the way a piece of theatre can inspire them.

For more info on the show, and how to get tickets, click HERE.

RESOLVED TO SELF EVIDENT TRUTHS

What's that saying about opinions and how everyone has one? Well, I think New Year's resolutions are like that too- we all have at least one. Most of us have many, and a lot of them are perennial favorites. I will lose weight. I will contact all those friends who have been lost to time and tide. I will blog more often. Yes, I will blog more often. Every damned day. Maybe twice daily. I will get that raise. I will speak from my heart. I will solve all my problems. I will solve all the world's problems. I will finish watching all the movies and series on my Netflix list. Same for Hulu and Amazon. I will, I will, I will.

And why not? We must have ambitions, dreams, goals. Right?

Well, this year, I felt the need for better resolutions. This was a direct result of the improbable, illogical, and insane election of the Great Orange Monkeyman from Queens as our President. First off, he lost the popular vote by almost three million. Second, he publicly made fun of a man with handicaps- which is what I believe is called a "dick move". Third, this bully either doesn't believe in global warming, which makes him a moron, or doesn't give a shit about it, which makes him an asshole.

Fourth- he objectifies women, treats them with contempt and what seems like anger. Like toys who he can "grab by the pussy". Again, dick move.

What is his problem? My mother was a woman. My wife is a woman. Over half the world population is made of women. And he treats them like shit. He really does.

So I resolved to be more actively involved in what is happening in my community, my country, and my world.

First big step- I went to the Women's March in D.C. with my wife Lisa this past week end.

And it was beautiful, inspiring, magic, crazy- the list of adjectives needed to described this monumental event is far too long to put on this page. I have been to a lot of pretty big events in my life. I was in Santa Barbara during the Rodney King riots. I lived in NYC during 9/11, the black out of 2002, and  the RNC of 2004. I saw Obama speak in Denver in a crowd whose estimated size was over a million. And Saturday, I took part in the largest demonstration in the history of our nation.

We met so many kind, funny, concerned citizens from all over the country. A woman from Florida, a pair of ladies from Boston. A punk rock violinist from Minneapolis. Everywhere we have been, from Friday to today, the atmosphere has been both electrified but kind- like that perfect party where everyone is having a great time, nobody wants to leave, and all the music they play makes you want to dance.

And the Pussy Hats. All over the place. Pink, Purple, Orange. Fuzzy and freaky, some with whiskers, some with ears. All of them made by hand. Lisa made three: one for her son Ryan, one for me, and one for herself. They are the three coolest hats ever made. I wore mine with pride, and plan to continue to wear it for at least the next four years.

We stayed at an Air B&B near 14th Street and S street. On the day of the march, we decided to walk, as the Metro was full to bursting. Walking was a great choice. As we made our way towards the Mall, more and more people filled the streets- a sea of women, many in pussy hats, leading us forward. The walk took over half an hour, and by the time we got to the Mall, it was a full on crowd- although the word "crowd" does not suffice. It felt like when you were in high school and went to one of those super concerts where five bands played. Everyone excited, distant roars of the already gigantic event echoing through the streets. Everywhere you look, people who are smiling- at each other and at you. So much love and hope and determination.

When we got to the mall, I ran into this woman. She was 94, and had a sign on her shirt proclaiming her age, and her religion, which was Quaker. I told her my mother was a Quaker too, and she looked me right in the eye, and asked me if my mother raised me well. Something about that hit me right in the gut. I don't know why, but it made me have to try very hard not to cry.

We moved on. We raised our voices in joy, and also in anger. We flipped the bird at the new hotel owned by the Orange Monkeyman when we marched past it later in the day. We took part in something greater than ourselves.

And this is just the beginning. There will be more marches. More protest. More change. People are fired up, ready to go.

More to come. I am resolved.

A FINE, SHEAR MADNESS

Scott RC Levy and the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center's Theatre Company have done it yet again- created a unique and exciting night of theatre that is both thoroughly engaging and completely entertaining. This is no surprise. They are by far the most consistently excellent theatre company in Colorado. Their latest gem is the interactive show Shear Madness, which has the distinction of being the longest running non-musical show in America.

Ever.


It's easy to see why when sitting in the audience at the FAC. The play starts with a hilarious bit of physical comedy, segues into a clever farce, and then transforms into an interactive mystery with the audience helping to solve a murder. I don't want to say too much about the plot, as that will spoil it for you when you go to see it. (and you will go see it!) Suffice to say that the show takes place in a beauty shop, a murder takes place, and a detective shows up to solve the crime. The beauty shop is run by Tony, played with abundant aplomb by the irrepressible Nathan Halvorson, who turns in a virtuoso performance. From the moment the show begins, Halvorson owns the stage, the audience, and the greater Colorado Springs area. Keeping time with Halvorson, and equally amazing, is Rebecca Myers as Tony's co-worker Barbara. Myers is full of sass and sensuality- if not so much smarts. The two banter and gossip to music from the radio, and instantly win over the crowd as they throw local-themed jokes at each other while cutting folks hair. Into the salon walks Eddie Lawrence, play with just the right touch of menace by Michael Lee to make us think he is most likely the killer. After him comes Birgitta DePree as Mrs. Shubert- a snooty buy loveable dame of high society. DePree is brilliant- a force of nature unto herself. There is a lot of interaction with the audience in this show, and the night I saw it she had some moments going back and forth with the crowd that made me laugh so hard my face hurt. When the murder takes place, the police of course arrive, and the show, which is already hilarious to the point where you can barely hear over the raucous laughter of the audience, kicks into high gear as the gruff detective (a fantastic C. Clayton Blackwell) and his rather dim-witted but good natured side-kick (the hilarious Nathan Ferrick) begin questioning both the people in the salon and the audience about the events of the day.

The show is full of lines written specifically for the area, and a there is a lot of improvisation in the play as the story in part moves forward based on what the audience says to the police. As such, there is an immediacy to the play, a sense that this is a once in a lifetime performance, which of course it is. Mr. Levy has skillfully directed the play at a lightning pace, allowing the actors to strut their stuff where appropriate, but also keeping the pace tight so that there are no dull moments.

The design is, as always at the FAC, outstanding. Christopher L. Sheley has created a beautiful set that is lit gorgeously by light designer Holly Anne Rawls. The cast is costumed perfectly by Janson Fangio- with outfits that are comedic, and so very right for each character's personality.

The show is a quick two hours, and I promise you will laugh your ass off if you are wise enough, and lucky enough, to get a ticket to the remaining shows. (for ticket info, click HERE)

I am not kidding. Go see this play.

That is all.